Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Food

---

The art of tea cuisine Posted: 03 May 2013 05:58 PM PDT How to make silky chawanmushi By Elaine Ho KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — I adore eggs so much that I can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper… you name it!Whether on its own or with a host of other ingredients, eggs are an absolute delight.Apart ... Read More Erawan celebrates Songkran By Eu Hooi Khaw KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — The Songkran Festival is when Thai chef Korn Yodsuk of Erawan draws upon his impressiveculinary repertoire to amaze his guests, mostly loyal diners at his restaurant, and ... Read More

More good reasons to eat a Mediterranean diet Posted: 03 May 2013 01:15 AM PDT How to make silky chawanmushi By Elaine Ho KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — I adore eggs so much that I can have them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper… you name it!Whether on its own or with a host of other ingredients, eggs are an absolute delight.Apart ... Read More Erawan celebrates Songkran By Eu Hooi Khaw KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — The Songkran Festival is when Thai chef Korn Yodsuk of Erawan draws upon his impressiveculinary repertoire to amaze his guests, mostly loyal diners at his restaurant, and ... Read More

You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Food To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

---

Arsenal’s future is looking bright, says Wenger Posted: 03 May 2013 07:51 AM PDT May 03, 2013 LONDON, May 3 — Arsenal are in a "very, very strong position for the future", manager Arsene Wenger said today as an eighth season without a trophy reaches a nervy conclusion. Wenger also played down any talk of him leaving the Gunners before his current contract ends next year, and said he felt as committed to Arsenal as he had done since arriving in the red half of North London in 1996. Arsenal are in a fight with their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea for the two remaining Champions League places for next season as they seek to compete in the elite European competition for a 16th successive season. They are fourth in the Premier League, two points above Tottenham and one behind Chelsea, and could consolidate their position tomorrow when they make the short trip across London to already-relegated Queens Park Rangers. Spurs are at home to Southampton tomorrow while Chelsea travel to newly-crowned champions Manchester United on Sunday. Talking to reporters at the club's London Colney training base in Hertfordshire, Wenger said: "We have gone through a period that was very sensitive, we are coming out of it now and everything is here to have a great future. "We have a good fan base, we now have a strong financial situation, we have good young players and a squad with a bright future with the quality of the young players we have. "It is just to manage it well now." Wenger at home to Manchester United at Emirates Stadium April 28, 2013, desperate for Arsenal to stay in the running for a top-four finish. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. — Reuters picWenger has been under some pressure during the past two seasons, with Arsenal failing to mount a realistic title challenge and falling short of adding to the three Premier League titles or four FA Cups that he won between 1996 and 2005. Despite that, they have never fallen below fourth since Wenger arrived, have moved from the 38,000-capacity Highbury to the 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium and have played in the Champions League every season since 1998-99. There have been rumours in the past that the 63-year-old Frenchman might leave Arsenal and these gained ground last week with rumours of a move to Paris St Germain, but he has ruled out an imminent return to his homeland. "I have answered that question already. I respect my contracts," he said. "I believe a big club should be run where everybody does his job and I try to do my job. The only thing I can say is that I do it with a lot of commitment and a lot of loyalty. I try to do as well as I can for this club. "I want to stay if I do well and if I consider or the club considers that I do well, that is all." Of more immediate concern is this weekend's match at QPR and taking three points to keep up their top-four challenge. "The only thing we know is it can only be decisive if we win our games. That is compulsory. We focus on winning our games and then look at the results of other teams." — Reuters

Day at the races rests on United beating Chelsea Posted: 03 May 2013 07:38 AM PDT May 03, 2013 MANCHESTER, England, May 3 — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is resorting to light-hearted bribery to keep his Premier League winners focused on Sunday's match against Chelsea by telling them they will only be allowed a day at the races if they win. His players sealed a 20th league title last week and there has been a party mood around the club since, Ferguson even sharing champagne with reporters at the news conference today. "I never took into account all the (celebration-type) things that happen," he said. "The PFA award, our own Player of Year awards, the parade and then (Nemanja) Vidic came to me last week and asked if the team could go to Chester races on Wednesday. "And I said without thinking 'Yeah, of course' but then when you put all these things together you think 'what the hell!'. "I hope they don't forget there's a game of football to be played, now if they don't win on Sunday I think that would be cancelled." The incentives do not end there. "In actual fact, I think I've got two horses running on Wednesday so I'll give them a tip if they win," he added. Alex Ferguson urging United to the title in their match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium April 28, 2013. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. — Reuters picHaving travelled to Arsenal last weekend and hosting Chelsea this weekend, Ferguson has spoken of his duty to put out strong sides against teams whose seasons are far from over as they chase Champions League spots. They might put out their best team but there is no pressure. "It's time for us to play with good enthusiasm, enjoyment and relax and play good football and express ourselves, that's what I expect to see," said Ferguson as he sipped his bubbly from a plastic cup. Benitez dig Third-placed Chelsea are 20 points behind the champions in the standings with 65 points from 34 games and after a stuttering season have found some form over recent weeks, yesterday reaching the Europa League final. Ferguson said inconsistency had been the London side's problem in a season where they dismissed manager Roberto Di Matteo in November and appointed Rafael Benitez until the end of the campaign. "When they sacked Roberto Di Matteo that maybe knocked them back a bit, it took them a long time to get going again. It's only in the last few weeks that they've got any consistency again," he said. Ferguson praised Benitez for their good recent results, helped in part he believes by an easing in hostility from fans towards the Spaniard. But he could not resist a little dig at a man with whom he has often had a fractious relationship. "I think he's very concerned about his CV, he refers to it quite a lot," he said. Ferguson has not got any major injury concerns before Sunday's game at Old Trafford (1500 GMT) although striker Danny Welbeck has been ruled out and midfielder Paul Scholes is likely to be on the bench as he returns from injury. The United manager said he was not planning wholesale changes to his squad during the close season, saying "tweaking" was the right word for what he had in mind. "We'll maybe look at one or two bodies to come in but you've got to remember we've got a lot of young players we expect to improve, we've got to take that into consideration," he said. "In the main group, we know where we are, we are comfortable." — Reuters

You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Features

---

Liechtenstein princely palace opens gates in Vienna Posted: 03 May 2013 09:29 AM PDT May 04, 2013 A traditional Fiaker horsecarriage passes the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein in Vienna May 2, 2013. — Reuters picsVIENNA, May 3 — Vienna's Stadtpalais Liechtenstein, the city palace that launched a revival of Rococo in the mid-19th century, will offer public tours for the first time today after an extensive face-lift. The late 17th century palace was once the main residence of the princely family of Liechtenstein, one of Vienna's richest families considered to be at the cutting edge of art and architecture, before they moved to the tiny Alpine principality. The Baroque building, which was revamped in the 1840s in the neo-Rococo style, was damaged during a bombing raid in World War II and when an Allied aircraft crashed into its roof in the final days of the war but it remained standing. It was briefly patched up in 1970 and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs used the space for offices, with the gilded ornamentation hidden behind fake walls and under raised floors until restoration started in 2008. The €100 million (RM400.3 million) revamp returns the private structure to its pre-war glory and opulence, with plastered ceilings, gold leafing, and Thonet wood floors. "The rebuilding was like a puzzle for the architects," said a palace spokeswoman. "We only had fragments and many of the original chandeliers had to be tracked down in basements of art dealers around Vienna." While some of the renovated building will be kept as private living quarters, the public will get a look at many of its gilded Rococo rooms, its high Roman Baroque architecture and a selection of neo-Classical art. The coat of arms above the main entrance of the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein.The project was paid for by Prince Hans-Adam II whose family has ruled the 160 square km principality of Liechtenstein since 1699 although Vienna remained their primary residence until the 1938 political annexation of Austria by Germany. The family is credited with transforming the principality from a rural backwater into a wealthy banking centre, making the country's 36,000 inhabitants some of the world's richest, with national output per head of US$141,000 (RM429,660) in 2012. The great dancing hall of the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein.In addition to the Stadtpalais, Prince Hans-Adam owns the lavish sister garden palace just outside the city centre — where he keeps his collection of Old Masters including Rubens, Amerling and Waldmueller — as well as the family's namesake castle in the Vienna Woods. A room in the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein.Liechtenstein is the only monarchy in Europe to still have any real executive power, and last year voters rejected a proposal to abolish the ruling prince's right to veto the results of popular referendums. Crown Prince Alois, who was given the task of running the day-to-day government by his father in 2004, said the monarchy would quit the country if the veto were removed, undermining stability and affluence for all. — ReutersA view inside the Stadtpalais Liechtenstein.

Solar-powered plane takes off for flight across US Posted: 03 May 2013 08:36 AM PDT May 03, 2013 Crew members prepare pilot Piccard for takeoff. — Reuters picsSAN FRANCISCO, May 3 — A solar-powered airplane that developers hope to eventually pilot around the world took off early today from San Francisco Bay on the first leg of an attempt to fly across the United States with no fuel but the sun's energy. The plane, dubbed the Solar Impulse, departed shortly after 6am local time from Moffett Field, a joint civil-military airport near the south end of San Francisco, heading first to Phoenix on a slow-speed flight expected to take 15 to 20 hours. The spindly looking plane barely hummed as it took flight in the still northern California morning as the sun was just beginning to peek out over the Santa Cruz Mountains to the east. After additional stops in Dallas, St. Louis and Washington, D.C., with pauses at each destination to wait for favourable weather, the flight team hopes to conclude the plane's cross-country voyage in about two months at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Swiss pilots and co-founders of the project, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, will take turns flying the plane, built with a single-seat cockpit, with Piccard at the controls for the first flight to Arizona. He is tentatively scheduled to land in Phoenix at 1am local time tomorrow. The project began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of €90 million (RM360.3 million) and has involved engineers from Swiss escalator maker Schindler and research aid from Belgian chemicals group Solvay — backers who want to test new materials and technologies while also gaining brand recognition. Project organisers say the journey is also intended to boost worldwide support for the adoption of clean-energy technologies. "I hope people understand the potential of this technology and use it on the ground," Borschberg, who flew for the Swiss Air Force for more than 20 years, told reporters as Piccard suited up for the flight nearby. "If we don't try to fly today using renewable energy, we never will." Pilots Andre Borschberg (left) and Bertrand Piccard speak to the media.With the wingspan of a jumbo jet and the weight of a small car, the Solar Impulse is a test model for a more advanced aircraft the team plans to build to circumnavigate the globe in 2015. The plane made its first intercontinental flight, from Spain to Morocco, last June. Solar cells built into wings The aircraft runs on about the same power as a motor scooter, propelled by energy collected from 12,000 solar cells built into the wings that simultaneously recharge batteries with a storage capacity equivalent to a Tesla electric car. Michele Piccard waves husband Bertrand goodbye.In that way, the Solar Impulse can fly after dark on solar energy generated during daylight hours, and will become the first solar-powered aircraft capable of operating day and night without fuel to attempt a US coast-to-coast flight. But the plane, which from a distance resembles a giant floating insect in the sky, is unlikely to set any speed or altitude records. It can climb gradually to 28,000 feet (8,500 metres) and flies at an average pace of just 43 miles per hour (69 km/hour). The current plane was designed for flights of up to 24 hours at a time, but the next model will have to allow for up to five days and five nights of flying by one pilot — a feat not yet accomplished. Meditation and hypnosis were part of the training for the pilots as they prepared to fly on very little sleep. Piccard gives the thumbs up.Asked about the downside of solar-powered flight at a news conference in March to unveil the current plane, Piccard acknowledged there was a price paid for the tiny carrying capacity and massive wings. "In that sense, it is not the easiest way to fly," he said. "But it is the most fabulous way to fly, because the more you fly, the more energy you have on board." He added: "We want to inspire as many people as possible to have that same spirit: to dare, to innovate, to invent." The plane's four large batteries, attached to the bottom of the wings along with the plane's tiny motors, account for a quarter of its overall heft. The aircraft's lightweight carbon fibre design and wingspan allow it to conserve energy, but also make the plane vulnerable to being tipped over. A ground team of weather specialists, air traffic controllers and engineers track the plane's speed and battery levels and help the pilot steer clear of turbulence. Solar Impulse cannot fly in strong wind, fog, rain or clouds. Its machinery is not even designed to withstand moisture. — Reuters

You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Features To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

---

Country music stars bid George Jones a final farewell Posted: 03 May 2013 08:00 AM PDT May 03, 2013 Mourners pay their last respects to country music legend George Jones at his grave side during services at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, May 2, 2013. — Reuters picNASHVILLE, May 3 — Country music legend George Jones' final standing ovation, after a career filled with them, was at the the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. And the song that brought about 4,000 fans and friends to their feet on Thursday was Jones' signature song, "He Stopped Loving Her Today," fittingly a tune about both love and death. Alan Jackson, a long-time friend, sang the song, channeling Jones' country traditionalism. Jackson ended by removing his white cowboy hat and waving it toward the heavens, looking up, tears on his cheeks, saying: "We love you, George." Jones, whose honky-tonk career spanned more than six decades, died on April 26 at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville after being hospitalised with a fever and irregular blood pressure. He was 81. Tanya Tucker and the Imperials, Randy Travis, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt, Kid Rock, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Chesney and Wynonna Judd all paid tribute to Jones during a service that lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes. All four Nashville TV stations carried the event live. After Jackson left the stage, a spotlight shone on the yellow flower-draped coffin, and family members began to exit as a recording of Jones' voice filled the Grand Ole Opry with "When the Last Curtain Falls." It was Jones' final farewell to the Grand Ole Opry, the home of the venerable radio show in which he had been a cast member since 1956, almost from the East Texas beginnings of a career that was celebrated by musicians, politicians and other guests throughout the service. ELDER STATESMAN OF COUNTRY MUSIC Although the stunningly successful early years of his career were celebrated, the spotlight was on the last 30 years and his marriage to the former Nancy Ford Sepulvado, who Jones frequently said "saved my life." During his career, Jones' drug and alcohol abuse and the incidents that accompanied them often gained more headlines than his legendary voice. But country's King of Broken Hearts - with the help of his wife - was able to chase away those demons for the most part and live out his career as a revered elder statesman of country music. Brad Paisley was among the performers to take their turns on a stage that was filled with floral arrangements, photographs and a rocking chair, a salute to Jones' classic "I Don't Need Your Rocking Chair." "I'm lucky enough to have met George when he had gotten right, beat the demons, found Nancy and found God," Paisley said. CBS chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer talked about the voice, the songs and the dreams they fueled. "Nobody could sing like George Jones unless you were George Jones," said Schieffer, a part-time country musician by hobby. Former first lady Laura Bush, who sat next to Nancy Jones during the service, said she heard Jones' voice frequently during her White House years. "We've had few sounds more lovely than the voice of George Jones," she said. "I heard 'White Lightning' as George W. worked out on the treadmill listening to George." "He was blessed to be able to walk through the last 30 years with wife Nancy by his side," she said. — Reuters

‘Iron Man 3’ blasts off US blockbuster season Posted: 03 May 2013 07:45 AM PDT May 03, 2013 Still of 'Iron Man 3' with Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow. — AFP-Relaxnews picLOS ANGELES, May 3 — "Iron Man 3" is expected to launch America's summer blockbuster season with a bang this weekend, having already taken global box offices by storm, industry analysts say. Robert Downey Jr returns as the metal-suited Marvel superhero, in a sequel to the last "Iron Man" movie in 2010, but also playing off the back of last year's comic-book mega hit "The Avengers," which also featured him. The film, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Kingsley as well, has already made nearly US$200 million (RM600 million) around the world in the last week, and could earn a similar sum in its first weekend in North America. "The summer firework show has already begun for most of the world. Disney's cash rocket ... is expected to light up the box office with US$165 million (RM495 million)," said Jeff Bock, box office analyst at industry tracker Exhibitor Relations. That may be short of the best opening weekend box office ever - US$207 million for "The Avengers" - but it would be the biggest "Iron Man" debut after US$98 million for the first one in 2008 and the second three years ago. Downey Jr was in suitably relaxed mood when promoting the movie recently ahead of its US release, bantering with Paltrow, whose character's teasing romance with his reaches new levels in this movie. "These guys are wimps, okay? The suit is not that bad," Paltrow said after Downey Jr and metal-clad co-star Don Cheadle complained about how heavy their suits were, and how much they had to wear them on set compared to Paltrow. The "Iron Man" star shot back: "And Gwyneth by the way, she did come in and she was having a ball, and her kids were there and she was in rockin' shape, so it was all nice and easy. I think she wore it once or twice. "It's an accumulative issue," he joked at a Beverly Hills press conference, before acknowledging: "I admit, we're wimps." In the new movie, Tony Stark, his billionaire playboy character who transforms himself into "Iron Man," faces formidable terrorist The Mandarin, played by Kingsley. There are two baddies in all, with Anglo-Australian actor Guy Pearce playing evil scientist Aldrich Killian, who has developed a fluid that can turn people into superhuman mutants. "These movies are only ever as good as their bad guys," said Downey Jr, paying tribute to his co-stars - who in turn heaped praise on the US star actor, who makes fun of his past problems with drugs and the law. "The truth is that these movies work because Robert has a really big picture creative mind about what these movies should feel like," said Paltrow. "He is always asking ... how can we make it feel like something we care about, and we want to watch. So I think ... that's why the movies keep working, and they're not a weaker carbon copy of the one before." Box office analyst Bock noted that in China, "Iron Man 3" made US$21.5 million in just one day, a record he said - compared to US$18 million taken by "The Avengers" there over two days last summer. "In fact, 'Iron Man 3,' straight out of the gate, may be the top movie of the summer," he told AFP, adding that it was "definitely playing like a pseudo-sequel to" last year's "The Avengers." So will there be an "Iron Man 4?" "We never could have known what and who was going to come together for the third Iron Man. Usually, the third of anything struggles to even meet the first two, let alone the first one," said Downey Jr. "So in all earnestness, things are very much in flux right now. Marvel has their plans and we're all living and growing, so we'll see what happens," he added. "The future, as usual, is uncertain." — AFP-Relaxnews

You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Books

---

Barnes & Noble slashes its UK e-reader prices Posted: 03 May 2013 08:52 AM PDT NY Governor Andrew Cuomo signs deal for 2014 book NEW YORK, April 30 — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, considered a possible Democratic contender for the US presidency in 2016, has signed a deal to write a biography that publisher HarperCollins said on ... Read More Feminist author Mary Thom killed in NY bike crash NEW YORK, April 29 — Renowned feminist and former women's magazine editor Mary Thom was killed in a motorcycle crash over the weekend in Yonkers, New York, friends and colleagues said.Thom, 68, a former ... Read More Disney star Bella Thorne writing high school series 'Autumn Falls' LOS ANGELES, April 28 — Due in the summer of 2014 is the first in a series of novels from 15-year-old Disney star Bella Thorne of the "Shake It Up" TV show.Co-written with Elise Allen, who assisted Hilary ... Read More Libyans find old treasures at Tripoli book sale TRIPOLI, April 26 — Flicking through an old book about Libyan history he never imagined he could buy under Muammar Gaddafi, Ashraf Hussein points to a picture of Tripoli's main square in the 1920s."This ... Read More Jason Segel becomes children's author with 'Nightmare!' NEW YORK, April 26 — Star of "How I Met Your Mother," writer and co-star of "The Muppets" 2011 outing and "The Five-Year Engagement" Jason Segel is segueing into fiction with children's story "Nightmare!" ... Read More

‘The Hit’ soars to top of US bestsellers list Posted: 03 May 2013 03:05 AM PDT NY Governor Andrew Cuomo signs deal for 2014 book NEW YORK, April 30 — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, considered a possible Democratic contender for the US presidency in 2016, has signed a deal to write a biography that publisher HarperCollins said on ... Read More Feminist author Mary Thom killed in NY bike crash NEW YORK, April 29 — Renowned feminist and former women's magazine editor Mary Thom was killed in a motorcycle crash over the weekend in Yonkers, New York, friends and colleagues said.Thom, 68, a former ... Read More Disney star Bella Thorne writing high school series 'Autumn Falls' LOS ANGELES, April 28 — Due in the summer of 2014 is the first in a series of novels from 15-year-old Disney star Bella Thorne of the "Shake It Up" TV show.Co-written with Elise Allen, who assisted Hilary ... Read More Libyans find old treasures at Tripoli book sale TRIPOLI, April 26 — Flicking through an old book about Libyan history he never imagined he could buy under Muammar Gaddafi, Ashraf Hussein points to a picture of Tripoli's main square in the 1920s."This ... Read More Jason Segel becomes children's author with 'Nightmare!' NEW YORK, April 26 — Star of "How I Met Your Mother," writer and co-star of "The Muppets" 2011 outing and "The Five-Year Engagement" Jason Segel is segueing into fiction with children's story "Nightmare!" ... Read More

You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Books To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

---

My top 5 issues when dropping my ballot Posted: 02 May 2013 05:34 PM PDT May 03, 2013 Zan Azlee is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, writer, New Media practitioner and lecturer. He runs Fat Bidin Media www.fatbidin.com MAY 3 — What can I write about today that would help you make a decision when Sunday comes? I doubt that any of you are still undecided at this eleventh hour. I can harp on and on about the things that I have seen over the years as a journalist following Malaysian issues or in these past two weeks of heated campaigning. I can even outright tell you who I'm going to vote for and the reasons why I am going to do so. But I'm not going to do that since it won't serve any purpose. And I bet that even the politicians know that whatever they do now is really just for their own confidence and about rallying their supporters going into Polling Day. Everyone knows that everyone has already made their decision. At this point in time, fence-sitters would be rare and very far in between. Waiting and anticipating for an election for the past year and a half, and then a long campaign period of two weeks, people have had more than enough time to think. So, the only call I would like to make is to make sure that all the reasons you have for voting be in the right place and with the right intentions. And here are the top five issues that I will be paying attention to when casting my vote (maybe it could be yours too): 1. Racism This is an issue that is the closest to my heart compared to all the rest. We need to look at how and who we choose as our law and policymakers because, in Malaysia, this one issue can affect so many things in the country, from economics right up to education.  2. Economy Unless you're one of the elite filthy rich, cost of living in Malaysia should be one of your main concerns. Basic income and the rising cost of goods (including housing, cars, etc) need to grow and mature in a direct correlation for it to be a healthy economy. 3. Corruption Right now, the perception among the rakyat is that people in high authority positions are corrupt. It doesn't matter if there is evidence or even rumours. That's how bad it has become. Transparency needs to be a priority for the coming government. 4. Media This one is a given for me seeing that I'm a media professional. For a healthy and mature society to develop, we need a healthy and mature media. This will also lead to a healthy democracy. 5. Education and health I would like all Malaysians to have free education and healthcare. These are basic human rights that everyone needs to be provided with and the state is the one to provide it. So in two days, everyone will be taking to the polls, and judging by the record number of registered voters (over 13 million), this is definitely going to be a good one! Selamat mengundi to all Malaysians! * This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Bukan 61 saja Umno dipecat Posted: 02 May 2013 05:09 PM PDT May 03, 2013 Haji Subky Abdul Latif seorang penulis bebas dan tinggal di Kuala Lumpur. Seorang pendiam, dia gemar meneliti perangai manusia dan berita politik di Malaysia. 3 MEI — Serta merta, sehari selepas hari penamaan calon seramai 61 orang dipecat dari Umno atas kesalahan menjadi calon bebas dan penyokongnya bertidan dengan calon Barisan Nasional di seluruh negara. Tentunya MCA juga patut mengambil tindakan yang sama, sama ada mereka hendak kekal dalam MCA lagi atau tidak. Sebagai parti yang ada maruah dan disiplin, Umno wajar mengambil tindakan itu bagi memastikan ia tidak diremehkan oleh ahli-ahlinya. Dalam kejadian seperti itu tiada  tunjuk sebab diperlukan mengapa mereka tidak boleh dipecat. Secara otomatik keahlian mereka digugurkan. Mengadu kepada mahkamah pun tidak berguna. Sekalipun antara yang menjadi calon bebas itu Naib Ketua Wanita Umno, Datuk Kamilia Ibrahaim dan Datuk Seri Sharif Omar, bekas timbalan menteri pertanian, mereka tetap dipecat. Kamilia tidak menunggu dia dipecat, dia mengumumkan meletakkan semua jawatan dalam parti dan keluar parti sebelum dia dipecat. Bilangan yang terpaksa dipecat kali ini adalah ramai. Sebelumnya tidak seramai itu orang Umno menjadi calon bebas. Tetapi zaman transformasi ini ia dilihat mendadak. Tetapi 61 orang yang dipecat itu adalah yang menjadi calon bebas dan penyokong yang tercatit dalam borang pencalonan. Tetapi calon bebas itu tidak menjadi calon jika tiada yang mencadang dan menyokongnya. Tidak sekadar dua yang tercatit dalam borang itu saja yang bersamanya. Sekalipun pencadang dan penykong itu tidak semestinya menjadi ahli Umno, tetapi lazimnya penyokong dan pencadang itu adalah orang yang paling dekat dengan  calon itu. Maka sekurang-kurangnya seratus lagi ahli Umno yang sepatutnya dipecat. Kemudian adakah mereka saja yang terlibat? Jika calon itu bergerak dan membentuk jentera pilihan raya untuk berkempen dan menjalan bermacam kerja pilihan raya, maka kesemuanya melibatkan lebih ramai ahli Umno, kesemuanya patut dikenakan tindakan. Tindakan tidak semestinya dipecat, tetapi ada cara-cara lain seperti diberi amaran dan digantung atau diberi surat tunjuk sebab mengapa mereka tidak boleh dikenakan tindakan? Kalau semuanya bergerak, maka yang menunggu untuk dipecat mungkin mencapai seribu orang. Cuma sekarang adakah yang dipecat itu sekadar yang bertanding dan bekerja membantu calon saja? Tidak mungkinkah ada orang lain yang memainkan peranan menggerakkan mereka menjadi calon bebas? Contohnya apa yang terjadi pada MCA Pandan. Penyokong Ong Kee Teat tidak puas hati dia tidak dicalonkan semula. Sipercayai Perdana Menteri Najib diberi kata dua oleh Presiden Dr Chua Soi Lek. Ong dikira calon boleh menang. Umno pun ramai yang sedia mengundinya. Ong sendiri disebut-sebut hendak bertanding bebas kiranya dia digugurkan. Dan dia pun dikatakan bersedia menimbangkannya. Dia digugurkan. Dia tidak jadi calon bebas. Tetapi dipercayai yang menjadi calon bebas di situ adalah proksinya. MCA tidak mudah mengenakan tindakan kepadanya, tetapi diyakini dialah di belakang pencalonan itu. Jika tidak dengan dorongannya, munkin tiada calon bebas. Apakah MCA akan bertindak terhadap orang yang menjadi dalang? Orang macam ini dipercayai ramai dalam Umno dan merekalah di belakangnya. Apakah Umno sedia membuat kajian orang seperti ini patut dipecat? Apa pun calon bebas yang dipecat itu dikira tiada lagi bersama Umno selagi ia dipimpin oleh Najib. Masa depan mereka dalam Umno bergantung kepada pemimpin selepas Najib. Bagaimana pun jika mereka bernasib baik mereka menang dalam pilihanraya ini. Kalau majoriti Umno kecil, maka mereka ada harga semula. Mereka akan dicari dan dijadikan Umno semula dengan lain-lain tawaran yang menarik. Pemecatan itu boleh ditarik balik. * Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.

You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

---

Pertikaian kalimah ‘Allah’kerana undang-undang tak munasabah, kata gereja Malaysia timur Posted: 03 May 2013 02:40 AM PDT Oleh Boo Su-Lyn May 03, 2013 KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Mei — Kontroversi isu kalimah "Allah" bukan tentang agama, tetapi kerana "polisi dan undang-undang kerajaan", kata wakil gereja Sabah dan Sarawak hari ini menjelang pilihan raya pada Ahad ini. Gereja bumiputera di Sabah dan Sarawak mengeluarkan kenyataan pastoral semalam menggesa penganut Kristian untuk bersuara terhadap ancaman membakar kitab suci mereka dan polisi kerajaan yang menghalang kumpulan minoriti itu daripada menggunakan kalimah "Allah" untuk merujuk tuhan mereka. "Dalam menghadapi perkara tidak munasabah, kita tidak boleh dan kekal berdiam diri," kata Rev Datuk Bolly Lapok, Uskup Gereja Anglikan untuk Kuching dan Uskup Agung Gereja Anglikan bagi rantau Asia Tenggara, dalam kenyataan pastoral. "Masa untuk kita bersuara sudah tiba... Kita perlukan komitmen yang teguh daripada pihak berkuasa supaya menghormati dan mengekalkan kebebasan bersuara yang dijanjikan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan, undang-undang ulung negara. Kami percaya bukan Kristian, termasuk Muslim berkongsi kebimbangan ini," tambah beliau. Kenyataan keras daripada ACS itu hadir ketika negara akan menghadapi pilihan raya paling sengit dalam sejarah dua hari lagi, dimana sejumlah besar pengundi Sabah dan Sarawaka adalah bumiputera yang membaca Alkitab, atau kitab Injil berbahasa Melayu. Komuniti Kristian yang membentuk suku daripada populasi Sabah dan hampir separuh daripada populasi Sarawak beribadat di gereja menggunakan Bahasa Melayu dan membaca kitab Injil berbahasa Melayu. Perdana Menteri sementara Datuk Seri Najib Razak baru-baru ini mempertahankan tindakan kerajaan membuat rayuan di Mahkamah Rayuan pada 2009 ke atas keputusan membenarkan masyarakat Kristian untuk menggunakan perkataan kalimah "Allah". Malah, Presiden UPKO Tan Sri Bernard Dompok dimana partinya sebahagian daripada gabungan pemerintah Barisan Nasional (BN) juga menegaskan penganut Kristian tidak akan berhenti memanggil tuhan mereka "Allah" walaupun mahkamah menghalang mereka melakukannya di negara majoriti Islam Malaysia. Mahkamah Rayuan Malaysia telah menetapkan 30 Mei sebagai tarikh untuk satu lagi kes pengurusan terhadap kerajaan dan rayuan Kementerian Dalam Negeri mengenai keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi pada 2009, perkataan "Allah" boleh digunakan oleh akhbar mingguan Katolik, Herald. Lapok hari ini berkata penganut Kristian hanya menuntut hak mereka dalam perlembagaan ditegakkan. "Sesungguhnya jalan ke hadapan tidak lagi berada dalam status quo yang menjangkakan gereja bumiputera di Sabah dan Sarawak untuk berdiam diri," kata beliau. Kumpulan pendesak Melayu Perkasa pada Januari lalu mengancam untuk membakar Injil berbahasa Melayu. Kempen Pilihan Raya 2013 sejak dua minggu lalu juga dipenuhi dengan papan tandan yang menggambarkan gereja sebagai merampas kalimah "Allah", dan juga risalah-risalah yang memberi amaran kepada orang Melayu tentang penganut agama lain yang menggunakan kalimah "Allah". Lapok menegaskan orang asli di Sabah dan Sarawak telah menggunakan perkataan "Allah" sejak generasi lamanya sebelum pembentukan Malaysia pada tahun 1963. "Orang asli menggunakan kalimah  "Allah" dalam semua aspek kehidupan dan amalan didalam agama Kristian daripada pembaptisan kepada upacara akhir dan ini termasuk dalam perkhidmatan, doa, pujian, ibadat dan pendidikan agama," katanya. Pentadbiran Najib walau bagaimanapun mengemukakan formula 10 perkara bagi Malaysia Timur sebelum pilihan raya negeri Sarawak pada 2011 untuk menyelesaikan sekatan penghantaran kitab Injil berbahasa Melayu yang digunakan terutamanya oleh orang Kristian Bumiputera. Dalam resolusi 10 perkara berkenaan, Kabinet melalui menterinya, Datuk Seri Idris Jala menjamin populasi kristian yang besar di Sabah dan Sarawak mereka bebas menggunakan dan memiliki kitab Injil dalam bahasa Melayu mahupun bahasa ibunda mereka.

Pakatan gesa pekerja syarikat penerbangan, pengundi untuk halang penipuan Posted: 03 May 2013 12:57 AM PDT Oleh Syed Jaymal Zahiid May 03, 2013 KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Mei — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) gesa pekerja syarikat penerbangan dan pengundi rakyat Malaysia untuk melawan penipuan pada pilihan raya umum 5 Mei ini, ketika dakwaan 40, 000 pengundi diragui termasuk warga asing dari Sabah dan Sarawak telah diterbangkan sejak minggu lepas ke negeri-negeri utama di semenanjung seperti Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur. Ketua PR di Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (gambar) hari ini berkata akuan pengundi yang diterbangkan oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) daripada Sabah dan Sarawak ke semenanjung Malaysian mengukuhkan lagi dakwaan cubaan untuk menipu undi. Setiausaha agung Umno Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor semalam berkata "rakan" BN sedang membantu mereka menerbangkan pengundi pulang ke semenanjung tetapi menegaskan ianya sebahagian daripada kempen parti "keluar mencari undi" untuk Pilihan Raya 2013. "Kenyataan oleh Tengku Adnan menimbulkan kebimbangan terdapat usaha terancang untuk mengganggu pilihan raya di Selangor," kata Abdul Khalid, yang juga negeri Menteri Besar sementara pada sidang media di ibu pejabat PKR, Tropicana disini. "Oleh itu, kami merayu kepada kakitangan yang terlibat seperti juruterbang, anak-anak kapal dan kakitangan teknikal supaya tidak terlibat dalam aktiviti-aktiviti yang menyalahi undang-undang," katanya. Namun, pagi ini pengerusi kumpulan pembaharuan pilihan raya Bersih 2.0, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan menegaskan tindakan menerbangkan pengundi dari Malaysia timur ke negeri-negeri utama di semenanjung adalah satu kesalahan. Ambiga berkata tindakan tersebut adalah mencurigakan dan membangkitkan kebiasaannya penduduk Sabah dan Sarawak bekerja di semenanjung yang terbang pulang ke negeri Borneo itu dan bukan sebaliknya. "Ia merupakan kesalahan dibawah 20 (6)(b)," kata Ambiga ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider. Abdul Khalid walau bagaimanapun mengakui sukar untuk PR mengumpul bukti kukuh bagi membuktikan dakwaannya itu tetapi dia turut bersetuju dengan pandangan pemimpin Bersih yang penjelasan Tengku Adnan tidak mencukupi untuk menjawab penjelasan daripada mereka. "Dakwaannya ialah pengundi berdaftar ini sangat mencurigakan kerana tiada adalasan untuk pengundi dari Sabah mengundi Selangor, apatah lagi dalam kumpulan yang besar," katanya. Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengatakan semalam terdapat 40,000 pengundi diragui, termasuk rakyat asing dari Sabah dan Sarawak telah diterbangkan masuk dari Sabah dan Sarawak semenjak minggu lepas ke negeri-negeri utama di semenanjung seperti Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur. Pejabat Perdana Menteri menafikan sebarang penglibatan berhubung dakwaan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) rakyat Malaysia dan juga warga asing diterbangkan ke semenanjung untuk mengundi pada pilihan raya umum, Ahad ini. Syarikat penerbangan nasional MAS juga telah menafikan dakwaan ia akan menggerakkan penerbangan sewa khas untuk mengangkut pengundi hantu. Hampir 28 peratus daripada penduduk Sabah merupakan warga asing, berjumlah kira-kira 889,000 orang, rakyat asing yang kebanyakkannya datang dari Filipina dan Indonesia. Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja (RCI) berkenaan pendatang haram di Sabah, yang bermula Januari lalu mendedahkan testimoni rakyat Filipina dan warga asing lain tentang bagaimana mereka menerima kad pengenalan biru dalam masa beberapa tahun selepas tiba di Sabah dan mengundi dalam pilihan raya.

You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com